Business permits registration in Bacolod City recorded an all-time high of 23,187 in 2018, or an increase of 23.2 percent compared to figures in the previous administration, a press release from the city said.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said, “This is a solid indicator that we have restored business confidence. Even the business world has taken notice of the business climate we have created in Bacolod, as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has listed us among the ‘most business-friendly cities’ in the country,” the press release said.

And as the National Competitiveness Council has recognized our City as the most competitive in the Visayas, “it is now our intention to attract more investments and sustain this growth momentum,” he added.

The 23,187 business permits registration in 2018 was 23.22 percent or 4,370 higher than 18,817 in 2015; 24.62 percent (4,581) higher than 18,606 in 2014; and 25.63 percent (4,730) higher than 18,457 in 2013 – all under the term of former mayor Monico Puentevella, the press release said.

During Leonardia’s term in 2012, permits registration reached 18,959. When Puentevella took over, it decreased in 2013, and virtually plateaued in 2014 and in 2015, the press release added.

As his campaign promise in 2016, Leonardia pledged to restore business confidence and improve the business climate in the city.

By end of that year, business permits registration increased to 19,021, and reached 22,004 in 2017 under his administration.

AWARDS

As a testament of the business-friendly climate in Bacolod, the city government received various awards from prestigious organizations in 2017 and 2018, among them the PCCI recognition of Bacolod as one of the Top 3 Most Business-Friendly LGUs in the country, Top Philippine Model City from The Manila Times;

Most Business-Friendly LGUs finalist award from the PCCI in 2018, first runner-up in “The Manila Times” Search for Top Philippine Model City with a special recognition as Most Business-Friendly City, and 8th in the Most Competitive Highly Urbanized Cities in the Philippines, and 1st in the Most Competitive HUCs in the Visayas, from the National Competitiveness Council.

Last year, Bacolod was also cited as one of the four fastest growing cities in the Philippines in terms of property searches, according to Lamudi, an online real estate marketplace with operations in 34 countries, the press release added.*